Expansible loose page binder



May '2, 1950 c. w. BISHOP EXPANSIBLE LoosE PAGE BINDER Filed VApril 4, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y n. v om Charles WJS/zo, Q (Itforneg May 2, 1950 c. w. BISHOP ExPANsIBLE LoosE PAGE BINDER 2 Sheets-sheet 2 Filed April 4, 1949 Clzrjes Patented May 2, 1950 'UNIT-ED TATES HGFFICE EXPANSIBLE'LOOSEBAGE- BINDER Charles shopgialdfN Y.

i- Application" April 4, 1349;;5Serial-1Not5y374 VVl This invention relates to loose `pagebinders fzandz'more particularly rrelatesy toexpansible loose ppage; binders-,whereinaspairi of cover members stare.:- connected.' together-.in a; spaced superposed `#in each offwhiclh. acompressionspring s mounted 'fetol'lex'pand' 'the posts-f and. the binder,.,wherein a Hspring actuatedpressurebaris slidably mounted. omthef-.postsry to, detaehably secure-'one' or afnumeeber, offpages between-the pressure-bar andsener .-of thearooverstfand wherein locking meansflare -gioperableto .unlock the `binder vfor expansion `and fthe@ insertion@ and? binding.: of" -Ypages therein and operable fto lock the binder tov detachably secure ;.-the finserted pages inthe binder.

l,''heffobjects-A :ofn "thep present- -invention vare to Aeprovidef'arrfimproved expansible looserpagefbnder :fof:` a:relatively'large-capacity havingaffeW simply l'formed parts; toe-provideduplicate; and similar e1-spring actuatedv expe-risible :posts and other parts vaand" thereby' reducemanufacturing foosts sof. that the improvedbinder may" be 'manufactured-rand @sold at aV` relatively '10W costto provide ax'spring fnactuatedf pressure bar 4slivzlably-I` mounted' on*l the :tiexpansible posts for* resiliently fh'olding one' or `:muore pages "between the pressureY vbar' and one efcover `'off theffbinder;v tolorovidespringeA means riso formd'f 'and arranged lon thev expansible posts -Jaslato resilientlyforce' "the f pressu1'e"".bar toward '"nnec'over' of'rtheiibinder tof :hold'one orfmore "npagestherebetween' and tocattenfout between ffithe'vpressure'bar and thef'othencover upon the insertion off alargetnumber*oflpages" to provide a. simple, effective and readily accessible f lockingfrneans' operahle` forl locking the binder?- Eigure itis: zal-,plans Iv wflof apagehavingne redge-rlnetohedrvfor; use :Withf,-.the. binder.

Eigure 3 isvanlend elevational., :Viewh onfana-englar-ged,scale; showing` fthe` binder `:partially-rflled 5 *with.pagesebeforenit-is expanded,and .a,1so\.shew :ing-,an fexp-anded'fposition fvofthe binden, in,dot

and f dash lines.

vf. Figure 4' fis-an Y elevational 1 view; nn lthefsarne e scalebas Figurev 3, lookingstoward :thegembossed 1Q A :counter` ofthefbinder Which--is .-shown'beforee'ex- `epansion rin efull linesr and:laftereexpansionrl.; in doti-lands dash'. lines. c-Partsfoff thencountereare l I -lo1'.)l e11 awayeto'. more :clearlyffshowxthe :construcettionnbt the binder.

rEtggure 5 eisen enlarged fragmentarywertical Atseo-tiorntl view takenS along line 5-f-5 of-Figure 1, .l-sshowing fr; the .s binder :partially e: expanded and ,-elocleed. l The .locking 'telesooping .2|post and: as- .,-..soeiated.partsvbeingshown l in Iarbitrarily selected vpositions to more clearly show the details-:ofecen- ..-strvuotion.

*.-r Figure isan enlargedfragmentary planfview fzifshowingfthe: slotted: head, off Ythe-post flocking smeanss'vand- `the findexed vannulargrommetn 2Dwhichrthe? flocking-:,meansmisf" rotatably` seoulted. #Eigure' 7:-=is arr-enlargedhorizontalmsedtional review; 1teuren-ealong lineA -1`-'I of Figure 5; showing the toothedflockingbarfof zhefouter'post part locked-to'fthe finnert telescovpingz post vpartis"and 3oz-the pressurebar fun'locked :for slidingzmovement 40l the-l telescopioe 7:post :parts :eagainsty expansion.

""Figurevl is; a'fnagxnentary-view ofnfthes'op- -zr=posite" face-'ofthe locking bar showingithefteeth :from lockingtzthe'ir pressurer barth-'ereto and 'lFigure l lis laftransverse vertical fsectionalfview "::bfiithexpressure barftakenfon "theg-line il I of Referring nowzto-.fthedrawings :the binderegenfferallyrrdicatedf by ythernumeral:20;.z is: provided ,ithl afstif back-'cover member: 2 l 1 hingedlyexzon- .L-.Theffbrego-ing;,and-othen objectswillr aplalr neetedrby'ajnexible lhingeelportion 22l tasa stiff Home perusalsofzfthe detailedf'descriptionlof a. epreferred:embodiment2 4-lof "the :inventionillus- -f'sf'a'ntedsinetheaccompanying drawngs ,tvlnarein illiigulre a; ftopzfpl-anf' View: ogimy rexpansble smosebpagesbincler.

e'marginalebindings portion 23; .andf afstiil?` lfirent recover member =24^hingedly `connectedby. aifl'exible nhlnge n tionezto astiff marginalzbindingporsation- 2E 4plural-ity:ottubnlanpost rpart's Nmeferablyczlfthzieerinrinumbeniiare ngdlw'semnledein upright relation to the marginal portion 23 intermediate its longitudinal edges in alined spaced relation. A plurality of similar tubular post parts 28 are likewise spaced and secured in upright relation to the marginal portion 26 and are slidably telescoped over the post parts 21 thus expansibly connecting the marginal portion 26 to the marginal portion 23.

The telescoped post parts 21 and 28 each house a compression spring 28 and provide telescopic binding posts 30 expansible by the springs 29. A pressure bar 3|, being formed with alined holes 32, spaced to receive the post parts 28 upon which it is slidably mounted, is resiliently urged toward the inner end of the pos`t parts 28 by any suitable spring means. The spring means may comprise a plurality of spirally wound compression springs 33, one encircling each post part 28 and spaced therefrom by a seat 34 formed on the pressure bar 3|, around each hole 32, and normally acting between the marginal portion 26 and the pressure bar 3| to resiliently hold the latter against a. stop collar 35 formed at the inner end of each post part 28. The springs 33, being spirally wound, occupy a minimum of space when fully compressed between the marginal portion 26 and the pressure bar 3| (see Figs. 3 and 4) so that by providing for a maximum movement of the pressure bar on the post parts 28 the capacity of the binder is increased. The inner face of the pressure bar 3|, around each hole 32 is formed with a counterbore 36 to receive the stop collars 35 so that the inner face of the pressure bar lies slightly beyond the inner face of the stop collars, and when the posts 30 are fully telescoped, as determined by the stop collars 35 engaging the marginal-portion 23, the pressure bar 3| resiliently engages the marginal portion 23 and one or more pages may be detachably secured therebetween.

When the posts 3|) are fully expanded by the springs 26, as determined by any suitable stop means on the posts, and the compression springs 33 are flattened out between the marginal portion 26 and the pressure bar 3|, additional pages, up to the capacity of the binder, may be inserted and detachably bound between the pressure bar 3| and the marginal portion 23. Stop means for limiting the expansion of spring actuated telescopic binding posts are well known in the expansible binder art, and accordingly, as indicated at 31 in Fig. 4 the inner end of each post part 2B may be formed with a. detent or pimple slidably engaged in a slot or groove formed in the associated post part 21 and engageable with the inner end of the groove to limit expansion of the post parts.

The marginal portions 23 and 25 for substantially their entire length are preferably reinforced by stiff metal plates. The marginal portion 23 encases a reinforcing plate 38 and is formed with a hole 38 for each post part 21 which is inserted in its hole and rigidly secured in upright relation upon a post seat 4| formed in the'plate 38. The plate 38 is also formed with a spring seat 42 for one end of each spring 29 to prevent shifting of the springs in their post parts 21.

vThe marginal portion 26 encases a reinforcing plate 43 to which the outer ends of the post parts '28 may be rigidly secured in upright relation in the same manner that the post parts 21 are secured to the plate 38. The plate 43 is also formed with post seats and spring seats which are Vnot Y shown but which are substantially the same as Ythe post seats 4| and the spring seats 42.

One of the post parts 28, preferably the center one, may also have its outer end rigidly secured to the plate 43 like the other posts and have a locking means associated with but rotatable independently of the center post part 28. However. to provide a simplied, more rigid and durable post locking construction I prefer to rigidly connect the locking means to the center post part 28 and have it form a part of a unitary rotatable post locking means 50 rotatably secured in the center of the marginal portion 26.

As shown in Fig. 5 the post locking means 50 includes a circular head 5| rotatably secured in the center of the marginal portion 26 as by an annular ring or grommet 52. The gromm'et 52 being rigidly secured to the center of the marginal portion 26 by its inner and outer external flanges 53 and 54 is formed with an internal flange 55 which slidably lits into a groove 56 formed in the side wall of the head 5|, thus rotatably securing the head 5|l in the grommet 52.

The outer face of the head 5|, while slightly rounded, is substantially flush with the face of the outer ange 54 and is provided with a transverse kerf or slot 51 in which a coin or any available instrument may be inserted to rotate the head 5| and the post locking means 5D. The inner face of the rotatable head 5| being ilush with the face of the inner iiange 53, is rigidly secured to the outer end of the center post part 28, as by forming a circular groove 58 in the inner face of the head 5! concentric with its axis and inserting and rigidly securing the outer end of the post in the groove 58 in any suitable manner.

The tubular center post part 28, forming a rigid part of the rotatable post locking means 58, is provided with a series of internal teeth 6| engageable with teeth 62 formed along one longitudinal edge of a slot 63 formed in the center post part 21 to lock the post parts against expansion by the springs 29 when the means 50 is partially rotated in one direction. The post part 28 is also provided with a series of external teeth 64 slidable in a sector-shaped slot 65 formed as an extension of the center hole 32 of the pressure bar 3| and is engageable with a tooth 66 formed at one end of the slot 65 to lock the pressure bar against movement on the post parts 28 when the means 56 is partially rotated in the opposite direction. The internal teeth 5! and the external teeth 64 being longitudinally, coextensive with the post part 28, are preferably formed in a locking bar 61 rigidly secured in a slot 68 formed in the center post part 28 (see Figs. '1 and 8).

As shown in Figs. '1 and 10 the teeth 64 and the tooth 66 are beveled to be more readily engageable.

Referring again to Figs. '7 and 8 it will be seen that the width of the slot 65 is such that when the locking bar 61 is rotated by the means 58 to a neutral position midway of its locking positions, as indicated in dot and dash lines, its teeth 6| are disengaged from the teeth 62 and its teeth 64 are disengaged from the tooth 66. With the locking bar in its midway or neutral position, the posts 3|! are free to be expanded by the springs 28 and the pressure bar 3l is free to be moved on the post parts 28 by the springs 33.

In order to prevent the external teeth of the locking bar from marring the pages the center post part 21 is rigidly secured to the marginal portion 23 with its slot 63 opening toward the back of the binder, and since the slot 63 is of less width than the diameter of the post part 21, and limits rotation 0f the locking bar 61, the external teeth 7 and changes may be made in the component parts and their arrangement within the scope of the appended claims wherein I claim:

1. An expansible loose page binder comprising a pair of cover members having their marginal edge portions connected together by a plurality of spaced tubular telescoping posts in which compression springs are mounted to expand the posts and thereby expand the binder, a pressure bar slidably mounted on the outer parts of the posts, spring means acting between one cover and the pressure bar to resiliently hold the pressure bar upon vpages inserted between the pressure bar and the other cover, and a unitary locking means carried by the one cover for selectively locking the posts or the pressure bar against movement by their springs, said locking means being associated with one of said posts and positionable to unlock the posts for expansion and to lock the pressure bar for movement therewith, whereby pages may be inserted beneath the lifted pressure bar and when the lifted pressure bar is forced to engage the inserted pages by telescoping the expanded posts said means is positionable to unlock the pressure bar and to lock the telescoped posts against expansion, whereby the inserted pages are removably bound between the pressure bar and the other cover.

2. A binder as set forth in claim 1 wherein the spring means is formed to flatten out between the pressure bar and the one cover to provide for a maximum movement of the pressure bar on the outer parts of the telescoping posts.

3. A binder as set forth in claim 1 wherein each post is provided with a spirally wound coil spring flattenable between the pressure bar and the one cover to provide for maximum movement of the pressure bar on the outer parts of the telescoping posts.

4. A binder as set forth in claim 1 wherein the locking means includes one set of teeth selectively engageable with teeth formed on the inner part of one of the telescoping posts and includes another set of teeth selectively engageable With a tooth on the pressure bar when the one set of teeth are disengaged.

5. A binder as set forth in claim 1 wherein the locking means includes a rigid locking bar longitudinally coextensive with the outer part of the center telescoping post, said locking bar being formed with inner and outer teeth throughout its length and being freely slidable and rotatable in a slot formed in and longitudinally coextensive with the inner part of the center telescoping post and in a sector-shaped opening formed in the pressure bar as an extension of the center one of the holes in which the outer parts of the telescoping posts are slidably received, the inner teeth being selectively engageable with teeth formed valong one edge of said slot to lock the center post parts against expansion and the outer teeth being selectively engageable with a tooth formed at one end of said opening to lock the pressure bar thereto.

6; A binder as set forth in claim 1 wherein the locking means includes locking teeth radially alined with a slot in a head rotatably secured in the one cover with its slotted face substantially flush with the outer face of said cover which is provided with markings with which the slot is registerable to indicate the position of the locking teeth.

7. A binder as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pressure bar is provided with holes formed to slidably receive 'the outer tubular parts of the telescoping posts and to receive stop collars formed at the inner ends of the posts so that the inner face of the pressure bar extends slightly beyond the collars and may engage and bind a single page when the posts are fully telescoped.

8. A binder as set forth in claim 1 wherein the marginal edge portions of the pair of cover members are expansibly connected together by a bowed ilexible counter embossed with suitable indicia whereby the binder simulates the appearance of a bound book.

9. A unitary tubular telescoping post and pressure bar locking means for expansible loose page binders, comprising an outer tubular post part rotatably secured to one cover of the binder with its outer end exposed and its inner end formed with a stop collar, a side wall of said outer post part being provided with a series of circumferentially narrow inner and outer teeth throughout its length, a spring actuated pressure bar slidably mounted on the outer post part and movable between the stop collar and the one cover, said pressure bar having a tooth selectively engageable by the outer teeth to lock it against movement when said post is rotated in one direction, an inner tubular post part telescoped in the outer post part and having its outer end rigidly secured to the other cover, said inner post part being slotted throughout its length to slidably and rotatably receive the inner teeth and havinga series of teeth along one edge of the slot selectively engageable by the inner teeth of the outer post part when the latter is rotated in the opposite direction to unlock the pressure bar and to lock the post parts against expansion, and a compression spring mounted inside of the telescoping post parts to expand the post when unlocked.

10. A post and pressure bar locking means as set forth in claim 9 wherein the inner and outer teeth are formed in a locking bar rigidly secured to the rotatable outer post part.

11. A post and pressure bar locking means as set forth in claim 9 wherein the exposed end of the rotatable outer post part is slotted in alinement with its teeth and the slot is registerable with markings carried by the cover to indicate the position of the teeth.

12. A post and pressure bar locking means as set forth in. claim 9 wherein the pressure bar is actuated by a spring attenable between the pressure bar and the one cover.

13. A telescoping post and pressure bar locking and unlocking means for expansible loose page binders, comprising tubular telescoping post parts in which a compression spring is mounted to expand the telescoped post, a pressure bar slidably mounted on the outer post part, a flattenable spring normally urging the pressure bar toward the inner end of the outer post part, and a rotatable locking bar coextensive with the outer post part and having teeth throughout its length, said locking bar being rotatable from a postlocking-position in which its teeth engage teeth on the inner post part and are disengaged from a tooth on the pressure bar, through a neutralposition in which its teeth are disengaged from both the inner post part and the pressure bar, and to a pressure-bar-locking-position in which its teeth are disengaged from the inner post part and are engaged with and move the pressure bar therewith.

CHARLES W. BISHOP.

No references cited. 

